mark the count of
standard items —
such as sponges,
blades and suture —
used during every
case. Staff members
initially added a space
where they could list
miscellaneous and
specialty-specific sup-
plies such as rubber
bands, drill bits and dura hooks. They eventually decided to create
magnetic tags that are placed on the board when the items are used.
The boards, which increase the visibility of counts and improve
communication and teamwork, were added to the ORs at Michigan
Medicine's three other ambulatory surgery centers. Because the
boards are hung in spots visible to the entire surgical team, the circu-
lator is able to document each item while maintaining two-person
counts.
"The manual counting process in place at our four facilities is truly
now a standardized process," says Ms. Bowers.
OSM
9 4 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J U L Y 2 0 2 0
VISUAL AID Kristina Kostka, BSN, RN, CNOR (left), and Kelley Thompson, BSN, RN,
CNOR, stand by a standardized count board in use at one of Michigan Medicine's
four surgery centers.
Jillian
Bowers,
BSN,
RN,
CNOR
